Wagon-body lifter



(No Model.)

B. L. KEITH. WAGON BODY LIFTER.

Patented July 2 u; FETER$ Pholwlilhngmphe UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT L. KEITH, OF BRAZIL, INDIANA.

WAGON-BODY LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,352, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed February 20, 1889. Serial No. 300,563- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT L. KEITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brazil, in the county of Clay and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vagon-Body Lifters; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wagon-body lifters; and it consists of suchmeans and their arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed, aswill simplify and render more efficient this class of inventions.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which-Figures 1 and 2 are side and end views, respectively, in elevation, andFig. 3 a plan.

Referring to the drawings, the frame for supporting the lifting deviceis composed offour vertical posts A, each pair of which are united by atop cross-piece B.

C C D D represent, respectively, the side and end pieces of a frame, towhich the lower ends of the vertical posts are secured, which frame maybe set in or on the floor or ground, or the vertical posts may betenoned into the floortimbers of a barn or shed.

F is a windlass journaled in brackets G, that are secured to the topcross-pieces B, with one end of the Windlass extending beyond the frameand provided with handles 71.

I is a ratchet secured to the Windlass between the handles h and theframe, and controlled by a pawl K, pivoted to a cross-piece B.

M is a brake pivoted to a bracket Z on crosspiece B.

The brake M is provided with a grooved or cut-out portion m, adaptedtoclose upon the Windlass at the point m and is also provided with acord m and handle or, with which to operate it.

P P are hanging frames, each composed of two upright and two crosspieces, and each suspended directly from the Windlass by a cord 5. WVhennot in use the frames P are drawn up to the windlass and there held.

WVhen it is desired to raise a wagon-body, the wagon is driven betweenthe posts A,the frames P lowered and placed under the ends of the body,and the Windlass turned until the body is raised to the desired height,where it is held by the pawl engaging with the ratchet. When it isdesired to lower the body, the pawl is raised; but to prevent the suddenfall the brake M is applied, by which not only the force of the fall iscontrolled, but the body can be held at any point;

The form of the lifting-frames P is advantageous, as they serve ascages, extending under the body its entire width and supporting thesides, thus providing for a uniform strain and support and beingsuperior to hooks, or to lifts having but a bed-frame with chain orcords attached thereto, which are aptto scratch or other wise injure thebody and to yield to strain and slipping at diiferent points.

It will be seen that my apparatus can be readily used to hoist otherobjects than wagonbodies.

lVhat I claim is-.

A wagon-body lifter consisting of the frame composed of the uprights andcross-piece A B, side and end pieces 0 D, in combination with a singleWindlass F on the top of the frame, the handles, brackets G, secured tothe cross-piece B, and in which the said Windlass is j ournaled, theratchet I, secured to the said Windlass F, and pawl K, pivoted to thetop cross-piece B, the hanging frames P P, com- ROBERT L. KEITH.

\Vitnesses:

JAMEs A. MCNUTT, J OHN W. KEITH.

